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Afghan-led Forces Nab Insurgent Facilitator

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2011  An Afghan-led combined security force captured an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator along with several of his associates yesterday evening during a security operation in the Mazar-e Sharif district of Afghanistan’s Balkh province, military officials reported.

The facilitator assisted with the May 28 attack against the Takhar provincial governor’s palace that killed and wounded Afghan government officials and Afghan civilians, including the Afghan National Police commander, and the provincial chief of police. Recent reports indicate that the facilitator had been in direct contact with Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leaders in Pakistan, providing them with specific reports on the damage effects of the May 28 blast.

The combined Afghan and coalition force was able to locate the facilitator at a compound in Mazar-e Sharif. Afghan members of the force assaulted the compound where they found the facilitator along with several associates. He identified himself to the security force and was immediately taken into custody.

The security force was able to identify several other individuals with suspected links to the facilitator. All men were detained and taken for further processing. No shots were fired.

In other operations yesterday:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained more than 10 suspected insurgents yesterday during an overnight security operation targeting a Taliban leader in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. The leader has participated in attacks against Afghan security forces. Additionally, he facilitates lethal aid for Taliban fighters in the district. Afghan members of the force interviewed several individuals about the leader’s location. Based on the information provided, the force was able to detain more than 10 individuals with suspected ties to local Taliban activities. The force completed the search without the use of force and it protected the women and children.

-- Several suspected insurgents were killed yesterday by coalition forces after they were observed drying homemade explosive chemicals and filling containers with the materials in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province. Coalition air assets fired upon the insurgents, resulting in several insurgents being killed.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Haqqani network leader yesterday during a security operation in the Khost district of Khost province. The leader coordinated homemade bomb emplacements and direct attacks targeting the Afghan National Army. He also acquired weapons for fellow insurgents. The Afghan-led security force tracked the leader to a compound in the district. As they arrived at the targeted compound, an Afghan member of the force called out to the residents in the compound, asking them to exit the buildings peacefully. The force secured the safety of the civilians and searched the compound. The force was able to identify the insurgent leader during questioning and he was taken into custody. The operation concluded with no shots fired and no civilians harmed.

-- In Paktika province’s Bermal district yesterday, a combined Afghan and coalition security force detained one suspected insurgent. The Afghan-led force conducted the clearance operation to disrupt Taliban and Haqqani network activity in the district. This area is known for fighter facilitation and insurgent training. The force searched the targeted village looking for insurgent activity. They cleared several buildings and conducted interviews with residents. They were able to detain one individual with suspected ties to insurgent activity. They also confiscated several small-arms weapons while searching the area. No shots were fired and no civilians were harmed during the operation.